But this will be his first experience managing against a Japanese team.

“I’ve been able to work with Hideki in New York and had Ichiro in Miami,” Mattingly said Wednesday. “The culture and the love for baseball is something that is fun to watch, the work ethic of the Japanese players and the fundamentals seem so solid.”

MLB will return to Japan next spring with a two-game opening series between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners at Tokyo Dome, marking the fifth time MLB has opened a season in Tokyo and first since 2012, when the A’s and Mariners also played.

Mattingly was previously in Japan in 2004 when the Yankees opened the season against Tampa Bay in Tokyo.

Matsui, who started his professional career at Tokyo Dome with the Yomiuri Giants, will serve as a first base coach for the MLB All-Stars.

“It’s great to be back in Japan with this Yankees uniform on,” Matsui said. “I’ve never been a first base coach before so I’m a bit anxious. I’ll try not to hurt the team.”

Pitchers will not be allowed to throw more than 80 pitches per game. If a pitcher throws more than 50 pitches, he must have four days of rest before being able to throw in another game.